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Inspect for structural and electrical damage from outside to determine if it is safe to enter. Electrical safety is extremely important in floods. Check for fire hazards and gas leaks. Use battery-powered light sources. Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia or vinegar. Wear sturdy shoes, rubber gloves, and eye protection. Be watchful for fire ants, snakes, or other animals. If mold is present, wear a respirator that can filter spores. First Steps Servpro ... Barnstable MA 02630 Make sure that everyone is out of danger of new flood crests, fire, and falling buildings. Assume flood water and flooded materials are contaminated. 1. Flood Insurance Claims If you have flood insurance, contact your insurance adjuster immediately. Begin cleanup, salvage, and drying as soon as possible. Do not wait for adjuster. Take photos for use as an inventory. All steps suggested on this page can be taken before an adjuster arrives. Barnstable MA 02630 Clean house so the adjuster can see the damage. Keep damaged materials for proof of loss. Leave a phone number where you can be reached when the adjuster arrives. The adjuster will assess damages to the house. The owner should sign a proof of loss statement. Additional damage can be added when found. Contact governmental offices for information. If you do not have flood insurance, your homeowner’s insurance likely will not cover Inc. Barnstable MA 02630 the loss. If the flood has been declared a federal disaster by the President, apply for assistance online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. 2. Electrical Systems Be sure all electric and gas services are turned off before entering the premises for the first time. Have an electrician check for grounds and other unsafe conditions before reconnecting the system. 3. Food and Water Barnstable MA 02630 Sanitation Until your local water company, utility, or public health department declares your water source safe, purify your water, not only for drinking and cooking, but also for washing any part of the body or dishes. Water: Strain water through a clean cloth or filter; then boil water vigorously for a full minute; let cool. If boiling is not possible, use fresh unscented liquid chlorine bleach (8 drops or 1/8 tsp/gallon of Barnstable MA 02630 clear water; 16 drops or 1/4 tsp/gallon of cloudy water); stir; let stand 30 minutes. Iodine and purification tablets are not recommended. Food: Undamaged, commercially-prepared foods in all-metal cans or retort pouches can be saved if you remove the labels, thoroughly wash the cans, rinse them, and then disinfect them with a sanitizing solution consisting of 1 tablespoon of bleach per gallon of potable water. Finally, re-label containers that had the labels Barnstable MA 02630 removed, including the expiration date, with a marker. Utensils: Discard flood-contaminated wooden cutting boards and spoons, plastic utensils, baby bottles, nipples, and pacifiers. Thoroughly wash metal and ceramic pans, utensils, and dishes with hot soapy water and sanitize by boiling them in clean water or by immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of 1 tsp chlorine bleach/quart water. 4. Furnishings and Carpets Remove all furniture, bedding, and carpeting to outdoors Barnstable MA 02630 to be cleaned and dried (or discarded). Flooded carpets and rugs are best replaced since flood water may contain contaminants. Flooded carpet pads should always be discarded and replaced. Remove water-logged rugs, carpets, and pads within 48 hours after flooding subsides. If salvage is attempted, spread out rugs and carpets outdoors. Hose off. If soiled, professionally clean or work in carpet shampoo with a broom. Rinse well with a solution of 1 Barnstable MA 02630 gallon water and 2 tablespoons liquid household chlorine bleach to sanitize (if colorfast). If carpet is wool, do not add bleach. Dry the carpet and subfloor thoroughly as quickly as possible. If carpet is installed damp, it can mildew. Carpet might shrink, but a professional may be able to stretch it. All upholstered furniture and mattresses contaminated by flood water should be discarded. If an upholstered furniture piece is valuable, the stuffing Barnstable MA 02630 and upholstering will need to be replaced. Solid wood, metal and plastic furniture may be cleaned and restored. Hose off any mud, clean, sanitize and let dry completely out of direct sunlight. 5. Walls Remove water from the structure as rapidly as possible. Ventilate. Remove baseboards, and cut holes in wallboard to drain uninsulated walls. Remove the interior surface of insulated walls to a point above water height. Discard flooded drywall. Undamaged Barnstable MA 02630 paneling may be propped open or reinstalled after cleaning. Remove and discard all wet fibrous insulation. Clean out mud. Wall studs and plates may be sprayed with disinfectant (1 cup bleach/gallon water) to kill any existing mold and fungi. Speed dry with dehumidifiers and fans. Leave walls open until they have thoroughly dried, which may take up to a month. Select replacement materials that will withstand future floods (such as rigid foam Barnstable MA 02630 insulation, removable wainscoting, ceramic tile, etc.). Next Steps Long-term flooding or wetness is likely to ruin most interior finishes and contents, but the next steps may be possible when flooding is short term and cleanup begins promptly. Delay permanent repairs until the building is thoroughly dry, which may take weeks. 1. Subfloors Layers of submerged plywood or OSB subfloors will likely separate or swell. Affected sections must be replaced to keep the Barnstable MA 02630 new floor covering from buckling. When floor coverings are removed, allow the subflooring to dry thoroughly, which may take months without a dehumidifier. Check for warping before installing new flooring. 2. Wood Floors Carefully remove a board every few feet to reduce buckling caused by swelling. If boards are tongue-and-grooved, consult a carpenter or flooring professional. Clean and dry the floor thoroughly, which may take weeks, before replacing boards and attempting repairs. Barnstable MA 02630 3. Tile and Sheet Flooring If a submerged wood subfloor swells or separates, flooring will need to be removed. (Asbestos tiles should be removed only by a trained professional.) If the subflooring is concrete, removal of the floor covering will hasten drying of the slab, but it might not be necessary if it would ruin an otherwise unharmed material. If water has seeped under loose sections of sheet flooring, remove the entire Barnstable MA 02630 sheet. Ease of flooring removal depends on the type of material and adhesive. Contact a reputable dealer to find out what product and technique (if any) will loosen the adhesive. 4. Cleaning Wall Finishes, Woodwork, & Floors To reduce mold and damage, clean and dry as soon as flood waters recede. Do not sand or scrape lead-based paint. Get more information before disturbing old paint. If materials are already moldy before you Barnstable MA 02630 can begin cleanup, get more information on avoiding mold hazards and recommended removal methods from http://www.epa.gov/mold recovery publications. Use a phosphate-free, all-purpose, or disinfecting cleaner. Wash from top to bottom. Rinse with clean water. One-half cup of household chlorine bleach to a gallon of water can be used on nonmetallic, colorfast surfaces as a disinfectant (to kill surface mold and bacteria) after cleaning, but it will not prevent new mold growth on Barnstable MA 02630 materials that stay damp. Dry thoroughly and quickly. If the utilities are on, use the air conditioning or heater, fans, and a dehumidifier or desiccants to speed drying. 5. Appliances and Equipment 6. Furniture Take furniture outdoors to clean. Brush off mud. All parts (drawers, doors, etc.) should be removed. Remove or cut a hole in the back to push out stuck drawers and doors. Discard flooded padding. Use commercial furniture-cleaning products Barnstable MA 02630 designed for the type of material. Do not refinish or wax until thoroughly dry. Dry slowly out of direct sunlight because sun will warp furniture. It may take several weeks to several months to dry. 7. Preventing Mold Aggressively control mold in the weeks and months after the flood. When power is available, continuously use air conditioning (or heat in winter) plus a dehumidifier, if possible, to remove humidity. In an unair-conditioned Barnstable MA 02630 home, open windows and use fans to circulate air. Turn on electric lights in closets, and leave doors open to facilitate drying. Try to reduce activities that add moisture to the indoor air, and use exhaust fans when cooking and bathing. 8. Removing Mildew from Household Articles and Upholstery Avoid disturbing and spreading mold spores indoors. Clean mildewed items outdoors. Learn and take precautions to minimize exposure to mold. Visit http://www.epa.gov/iaq. Use Barnstable MA 02630 a HEPA vacuum, if available, to remove visible mold growth. Discard the vacuum bag. Otherwise, wipe with damp paper towels, discard, and seal in plastic bags. Dry items in the sun, if possible. Sponge any remaining mildew with thick suds or a commercial cleaner designed for the type of material. Wipe with a clean, barely damp cloth. Wipe mildew-stained areas with a cloth dampened with diluted alcohol (1 cup rubbing or denatured Barnstable MA 02630 alcohol to 1 cup water). Dry thoroughly. Additional Sources:

If there’s been any water damage on your commercial or residential property, you should not wait and should immediately call in professionals from a reputable water restoration company. In some cases, you can do restoration on your own, but there is too much risk to take it up as a DIY project. Let’s have a close look at the services provided by a water restoration company.

* Available 24/7

Professional water restoration companies operate on 24/7 When You Need to Call a Water Damage Restoration Company Barnstable MA 02630 basis. Time is really important when it comes to water damage restoration and any delay can dramatically increase your losses resulting in additional restoration expenses. If flooding has been due to any burst pipe, shut off the water supply and immediately call in professionals as soon as you can. If flooding is due to a sewage backup, floods, hurricanes, or roof leakage, you should not wait even for a second and call water restoration Barnstable MA 02630 company to minimize your losses.

* Expert help with insurance claims

The water restoration company can do much more than water cleanup and restoration in your home or office. They will assign you an insurance specialist who will prepare your paperwork and help you in the entire insurance claims process. Even though claiming insurance for any property damage seems easy, but insurance company will do everything possible to give you a lower amount than required. With Water Damage Restoration - What Are Your Options? Barnstable MA 02630 the professional help from an insurance specialist, you will save lot of time and stress and will get the check that will easily cover all your restoration expenses.

* Professional equipment

Water restoration companies use commercial grade equipment and tools, such as blowers, portable water extraction units, dehumidifiers, pumps, humidity and moisture gauges, fans, truck mounted extraction units and so on. All these equipments will help in removing water and will restore your home or office Barnstable MA 02630 within hours.

* Technical know how

This is where water restoration companies offer the most value. You may take hours to learn and research to figure out best restoration plan for your property while professionals with years of hands on experience will immediately go to work and will restore your property in the most cost effective and efficient way. They will also advise you on potential issues with the construction of your building that might lead Barnstable MA 02630 to future water damage issues.

Therefore, in conclusion, it’s best to call a professional water restoration company as soon as any water damage occurs on your property. The sooner you’ll call them, the lesser your losses will be. These companies also guarantee that their estimates will be accepted by your insurance company. That means, you won’t spend anything from your pocket by hiring these professionals.